Month: December 2017

Car manufacturers like to produce other products to show they can apply their technological know-how in all areas. Sometimes it’s bicycles, other times furniture and, just occasionally, boats.

The maritime industry marks an entry into the peak of ‘lifestyle products’ for car firms. Whereas a motor vehicle is a necessity for most, a boat is something to enjoy and relax in – which is exactly why car makers want to be associated with them.

Here, we’ve taken a look at some of the most impressive boats car firms have created.

Peugeot Sea Drive Concept
£Priceless – one off concept

Whereas Peugeot is more often thought of as a producer of compact, value-for-money hatchbacks, the French manufacturer teamed up with Beneteau to showcase that it could indeed build boats too.

The cockpit uses styling cues from Peugeot cars, including the small steering wheel – that features control buttons for major functions – and iCockpit infotainment system from the 3008 and 5008. It’s a dramatic looking thing, and is leagues away from anything that Peugeot sells today.

Aston Martin AM37S
£1.22m

Aston Martin has a distinct heritage of creating luxurious, powerful and hugely desirable motor cars – and this year it applied those traits to a yacht, with the AM37S.

Built in collaboration with Quintessence Yachts, the twin 512bhp-engined AM37S is capable of 50 knots – around 57mph.

Aston also let its craftsmen loose on the yacht, resulting in a boat with a high-quality cabin, while the main windscreen has been created from a single piece of glass to give it an all-encompassing look.

Lexus Sport Yacht
£Priceless – one off concept

The Sport Yacht marked a new direction for Lexus – typically behind the production of economical hybrid and petrol-powered cars.

Powered by two Lexus V8 engines, it certainly has performance on its side, with each producing 440bhp and meaning the Sport Yacht can achieve 43 knots, nearly 50mph.

As well as being fast, it has been designed to be practical. There’s a stove, sink and fridge inside as well as enough room for eight people.

Marauder AMG GT S
£1.3m

Legendary tuners AMG and Cigarette Racing Team have teamed up on many occasions, but this Marauder AMG speed boat really stands out.

Not only does it look incredible, but it’s fast too! Powered by a pair of 1,528bhp engines, it can hit an incredible 135mph.

You get Bluetooth connectivity and a premium audio system – though whether or not you’ll be able to hear it while travelling at more than 100mph on water is another question.

Bugatti Niniette 66
£2.99m

Built by Palmer Johnson in collaboration with Bugatti, the Niniette 66’s design takes distinct cues from the new Chiron – the side profile of the boat follows the same lines as the hypercar.

The Niniette features a double bed, flat-screen television and a carbon-fibre television while twin V8 engines can power it along to 51mph. The boat’s moniker derives from the pet name given by Bugatti’s founder Ettore Bugatti to his youngest daughter, Lidia.

German brand Mercedes-Benz has just launched a ‘premium pick-up truck’ which it has built in collaboration with Japanese maker Nissan.

When Mercedes announced that it was entering the market with a premium commercial vehicle, it raised many eyebrows.

Could a truck predominantly used by people who spend their days driving through muddy fields really be attractive in a premium specification?

Mercedes thinks so, and proudly revealed at the UK launch that it has already taken nearly 1,000 pre-orders for the pick-up, which starts at £27,310 excluding VAT.

However, this isn’t a bespoke Mercedes. The German manufacturer signed an agreement with Nissan that would see its premium pick-up be based on the rugged Navara.

It was keen to point out that the trucks are not totally alike, even bringing a Navara along so journalists could poke around to see what’s different.

However, there are plenty of similarities – here’s what they are.

Engines and oily bits

While Mercedes was keen to point out all the subtle changes they have made, they couldn’t hide the big one – that most of what’s under the skin is a Nissan.

At launch both engine variants are based on the Japanese manufacturer’s 2.3-litre turbo-diesel unit, pictured here in the Nissan Navara pick-up. The entry-level model makes 161bhp while a 187bhp version is also available.

There’s also a six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic transmission, both taken from Nissan, while the clever differentials that move power between all four wheels are also present on the Navara.

Fortunately, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – we tried the X-Class on a tricky off-road course, and it proved incredibly capable climbing slippery slopes and pulling itself out of bogs. The engine is a bit unrefined and sluggish under acceleration out on the road, though.

Door handles

Mercedes went to great pains to point out that every exterior panel is different – even the rear doors, which look pretty much identical but have a slightly different angle to the window ‘flick’, apparently.

However, there’s one Navara-spec design feature jutting out of the bodywork, and that’s the door handles. That means you actually have to grab a piece of Nissan to climb into your premium pick-up that’s definitely not a Nissan.

Bottom half of the wing mirrors

We’re not sure how much time and money was saved by doing this, but Mercedes only redesigned half the wing mirror. The bulk of the design that you see is new, but the bottom half, which attaches to the door and supports the mirror’s housing, is straight off the Nissan.
It’s a minor detail, but it’s a detail nonetheless.

Aerial

Speaking of minor details, we have one more for you. The aerial on the roof, which protrudes proudly from the rear of the cab, is Japanese. It’s decidedly old school-looking, too, so it’s perhaps a surprise Mercedes didn’t see fit to change it…

Key

We’ve saved the best for last. The design of a key can tell you a lot about a vehicle, and premium manufacturers tend to use bulky items with satisfyingly sturdy button clicks.

Nissan, on the other hand, has rather slim, lightweight keys with flimsy buttons that feel like they could be picked apart by a bored child in five minutes flat.

Mercedes hasn’t fitted all the electronic gubbins from a Navara key into one of its heavier duty fobs, instead opting to essentially stick its own badge on a Nissan unit.

It does feel like a missed opportunity to extend that premium feeling…

As we creep into the quiet cul-de-sac in a sleepy Hampshire town, no one notices the unremarkable grey BMW on surveillance duty.

Looking quite like every other 3 Series on the road, the unmarked police car raises little suspicion as it slips into the street where most of the houses are lit up with Christmas lights and their occupants are settling down for a Friday night in front of the TV.

This is no social visit, though. Traffic cop PC Rob Lewis is looking for someone specific – a known, repeat drink-driver who has been shopped to cops on the Crimestoppers hotline.

Tip offs

“The intelligence suggests this Jaguar driver downs a few pints every evening in a pub in the High Street and then drives home around 7pm,” explains PC Lewis, 44. “We are here to try and stop him.

“This information has mostly come from the Crimestoppers hotline,” he adds. “People call in with details and that is fed to us to investigate – and that’s exactly what we’re doing now.”

Christmas campaign

Operation Holly is a national drink-drive campaign that brings drink and drug driving into the spotlight – and this year police forces, like Hampshire Constabulary, are taking a more intelligence-led approach to catching offenders.

While the high profile, roadside operations that pull over drivers at random are still on-going, they’re taking somewhat of a backseat to stings like this one across the UK.

PC Lewis – a traffic cop for five years and a policeman for 18 – is clutching print outs of bulletins with pictures of offenders, car information, and details of their known patterns. And we’re out looking for them.

Sleeping it off

Unfortunately, the Jaguar driver is already home and the lights are off in his house – PC Lewis suspects he’s already had a skin-full and is now sleeping it off.

“We might not have got him tonight, but we’ll keep trying,” he says. “It took me five years to catch one repeat offender who was known to the force, but I eventually caught him. Taking people like that off the road is vital.”

Erratic Range Rover

While we’re loitering outside another known drink driver’s house, we get a call on the radio – a woman in a Range Rover is weaving all over the A3(M) near Petersfield, and they suspect she’s had a drink.

The location is around 10 miles away from the busy housing estate we’re circulating, but with blue lights and siren fired up, it’s merely a few minutes away.

Man hunt

PC Lewis expertly carves his way through the traffic, cars slipping aside in the fast lane as we top three figures to get to the area she was last spotted.

We arrive and park up on the hard shoulder, just after a junction on the busy dual carriageway, and keep an eye out for her to pass. A few minutes later the control room updates us, she’s been seen in Emsworth, a seaside town further down the road. We sweep head there and sweep the town looking for her, but she’s nowhere in sight.

Back on patrol

PC Lewis is constantly on the look-out for the tell-tale signs of a drink driver. Weaving, speeding or even driving with the window down while its cold are all signs the driver may have had a drink.

While patrolling Portsmouth we get another call from the control room – a man is threatening to leap off “jumper’s bridge”, a nearby suicide hotspot, and they’d like us to assist.

“We’ll head to the bridge and see what we can see,” PC Lewis tells the control room. On the way, another call comes in – his van has just triggered an ANPR camera not far from our location.

Drink driver

We divert to see if we can find the van – but within minutes he’s collared by a marked police unit. The driver is clearly upset, but stinks of alcohol.

PC Chris Powling breathalyses him and he blows a reading of 81mg in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. The driver is arrested, handcuffed and taken to the station in the back of a police van.

Banged up

At Portsmouth Central Police Station, the arresting officers need to get him booked in quickly. They need to test him on the Intoximeter as soon as possible – this is an official test and takes two readings, the lower of the two is then used as evidence.

It’s a set process, laid down in a document, and after he’s booked in by the custody sergeant, he’s taken straight into a special room for the test. After 15 minutes, the results are in – he’s blown 83mg per 100ml of breath twice and placed in a cell to sober up. Later the next day, he’ll be charged.

Sinking feeling

As the realisation of what is happening sinks in, the van driver starts to sob.

“Drink driving has huge consequences on people’s lives,” explains PC Lewis. “When they get to the station and realise they’ve been caught and that they’ll probably lose their jobs and freedom, then it starts to hit home. The advice is simple: Don’t drink and drive, it ruins lives.

“People might think we don’t take reports of drink-drivers seriously and may wonder if we ever do anything about it. As you’ve seen tonight, we take it very seriously indeed and will visit their homes or places where they drink to ensure they’re not breaking the law.

“I’d ask the public to continue reporting those breaking the law, because we will do all we can to catch drink-drivers not just at Christmas, but every single day of the year.”

James Bond, the suave, Martini-swilling British spy is usually found behind the wheel of an elegant, swooping sports car – think Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me, or Aston Martin DB10 in Spectre.

However, what do the vast majority of 007’s cars have in common? They all use petrol power.

With the real-life car industry moving towards electrification and away from combustion engines, shouldn’t Q-branch start issuing Bond with an electric-powered performance car instead? We’ve picked five electric cars that would look the part in any-high speed car chase with Bond behind the wheel.

Jaguar E-Type Zero

British? Check. Two seats? Check. Convertible? Check. Straight from the off, the Jaguar E-Type Zero appears to be the perfect electrified Bond car.

Based on a regular 1968 E-Type, the Zero uses an electric powertrain developing 220kW, allowing it to hit 60mph in under six seconds.

It’s also got all of the charisma required for a Bond car, but remains elegant and understated. Bond has, interestingly, never driven an E-Type before, so this would be its first appearance in the franchise.

Tesla Roadster

With Tesla at the forefront of electric car technology, its latest Roadster makes for an ideal high-speed transport option for Bond.

With a claimed 0-60mph time of under two seconds, 007 would be one of the fastest things on the road – and far quicker than any pursuing baddies.

In addition, Tesla claims that the Roadster will be able to do 620 miles on a single charge, so cross-continent jaunts shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

Morgan EV3

Traditional, but effective – traits that describe both James Bond and this – Morgan’s new EV3 electric 3 Wheeler.

Though far more compact than most Bond cars, the Morgan is likely to provide as grand an entrance as any Aston Martin.

In addition to a 34.9kW electric motor, the EV3’s low centre of gravity gives it excellent cornering abilities, while coach-built bodywork gifts it with a level of exclusiveness that is needed by any Bond car.

BMW i8

Though the BMW i8 has been around for a little while now, there are very few cars like it on the road today for sheer other-worldly looks.

Its gullwing doors, stylish aerodynamics and powerful hybrid powertrain all put it firmly into Bond car territory.

It’ll hit 60mph in under five seconds, only topping out at 155mph – enough performance for any mountain road chase. We could easily see Q-branch fitting rocket launchers at either side, too.

Honda Sports EV

Arguably one of the most stylish electric vehicles to be revealed in 2017, the Sports EV from Honda would be well suited to life with 007 behind the wheel.

Low-slung and compact, the Sports EV shows what the future of electrified sports cars could look like – and what the future of Bond vehicles could be too.

It would be the first time that a Honda would have appeared in the films, giving Bond an all-new mode of transport.

Police officers have issued a warning to drink and drug drivers who think they can get away with it: Don’t bother.

We were invited along to experience Hampshire Constabulary’s Operation Holly where officers were using intelligence-led policing to catch offenders. But despite the tip-offs from the public via Crimestoppers, officers still use their skill, intuition and experience to spot drink drivers.

Traffic officer PC Chris Powling said: “There’s no point thinking you can get away with drink driving. There might be certain things we look for, but if you think you can cover up drink or drug driving – you can’t.

“Impaired drivers always give themselves away one way or another, and we’re experienced enough to spot the signs. Our message is simple: Don’t drink or take drugs, and drive.”

Here are some tell-tale signs to help sober motorists spot drink and drug drivers – and if you do, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Driving manner

How motorists who’ve had a drink or taken drugs drive their cars is very different to those who are sober. Not keeping the car in a straight line, weaving in between the white lines and overstepping give way marks and stop signs are all tell tales of an inebriated driver.

Offences

Traffic cops can only breathalyse drivers who have committed a ‘moving road traffic violation’. That could be something as simple as having a brake light out, or speeding.

Once pulled over, officers are perfectly within their rights to breathalyse the driver.

Ask the question

Have you had anything to drink in the last 24 hours? It’s a simple question and one that most people, especially at the weekend, will find hard to answer no to.

A positive answer means the officer can pull out the breath test machine and ask the driver to provide a reading.

Speeding

We’ve already mentioned it, but intoxicated drivers often think they’re better than they are. Their heightened confidence levels from the alcohol or drugs mean they’re far more likely to break the limit. At the other end of the scale, officers are looking for those who are driving too slowly – another sign a driver is trying to avoid detection.

Car condition

If you’re happy to wantonly break the law by drink driving, chances are you don’t really care about the state your car is in. Traffic cops say most offenders have something wrong with their car, such as bald tyres, lights out, or damaged panels – and they look out for these while on patrol.

Misty windows

Another giveaway on cold nights – especially around the festive season – is “letterbox windows”. This is where a driver has simply wiped a small area of a misted-up window and driven off. Drink-drivers are often impatient, or simply don’t notice their windows are foggy before driving off.

Cold air

Driving around with a window down in winter is unusual – and can be a tell-tale sign of a drink-driver. Officers explained that the blast of cold air makes the intoxicated drivers feel more alert, especially when the sleepy effects of alcohol are kicking in, which is why they’ll keep an eye out for them as they’re driving around.

No lights

At this time of year lots of people forget to put their lights on, but it can also be a sign someone has had a drink. After a skin full, drivers often are not thinking straight and they’ll see the daytime running lights illuminating the road ahead and think their headlights are on.

Flashing blue lights aren’t usually a welcome sight – unless, of course, they’re attached to an iconic police vehicle like one of these.

Over the years, police forces around the world have attached blue lights and a siren to some pretty special machines. Here’s a look at some of our favourites.

Ford RS200 Police Car

Back in 1986, UK police officers were usually found behind the wheel of a Ford Sierra or Granda – save for this lucky traffic cop, who was able to pilot a police-liveried RS200.

Powered by a 250bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine, the RS200 was certainly fast. This iconic shoot took place on a closed section of motorway – and was recently recreated with a new Focus RS police car pulling over a Sierra Cosworth.

Lamborghini Huracan Polizia

The Lamborghini Huracan is a V10-powered, mid-engined supercar capable of 60mph in under four seconds – ideal, then, as a high-speed response car for the Italian Highway Patrol in Rome.

Genuinely used, the Huracan Polizia was put into action as an everyday police car, as well as for the urgent transport of blood and organs. The exterior of the car was finished in the Italian police’s colours, while the tyre sidewalls were even tinted in the shade.

Carabinieri Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

This stealthy Alfa Romeo Giulia QV was delivered to the Carabinieri – the military arm of the Italian police force.

It’s a smart choice for a police car – a powerful turbocharged V6 gives it plenty of performance while sharp, nimble handling makes it ideal for changing lanes and nipping in between traffic quickly.

BMW i3

Okay, so it may not be the most visually-appealing police car available, but the fundamentals of the BMW i3 make it well suited to the job.

It’s got a surprising amount of punch, and its high torque levels mean that it’ll out-sprint more cars than you’d expect.

It’s also zero-emissions, meaning that officers can chase after criminals while doing little harm to the environment. An all-electric range of 97 miles means there’s more than enough charge for daily duties too.

Lotus Evora

Back in 2011, legendary lightweight sports car creator Lotus gifted one of its Evora vehicles to the West Midlands Police Force.

Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 with 280bhp, it arrived on a two-week loan and was the first time a high-end sports car had been used by the UK police.

It came with full police livery and blue lights, mounted on the roof and in the car’s front grille, so there was no mistaking it as it loomed large in offenders’ mirrors.

Dodge Charger Pursuit

Meet the Dodge Charger Pursuit – a contender from across the pond. As well as looking effortlessly mean, it uses either a V6 or V8 petrol engine, so it’s got plenty of power under the “hood”.

It boasts performance-tuned suspension with load-levelling shocks, as well as ballistic door panels that give the very best passenger protection. Plus, it can also be specified with all-wheel-drive for better traction.

Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge

Something as heavy and luxurious as a Rolls-Royce isn’t typically suited to life as a patrol car, however this Ghost Black Badge, supporting Sussex Police at a recent event, looks like it’s fully up to the task.

Livery aside, the Ghost remains close to standard. The interior, for instance, is finished in black and tan contrast leather. Unfortunately, this particular Rolls-Royce never entered active service, so it never got the chance to police the mean streets of Sussex.

BAC Mono

The BAC Mono is a lightweight, powerful single-seater race car for the road, and therefore isn’t the first choice for most police forces.

It was, however, extensively tested on the Isle of Man, and in doing so formed a partnership between the island’s constabulary and BAC.

Just one lucky officer – PC Andy Greves – was assigned to the car, tasked with promoting road safety on the island. Given that the Mono can hit 60mph in 2.8 seconds, it’s unlikely to have taken him too long to get around and was the perfect car to keep up with speeding bikers.

Porsche 911 Targa

In the 1960s the Dutch police were on the hunt for a vehicle capable of policing its then derestricted motorways.

It arrived at a Porsche 356, which stayed in use for some time. However, in 1967 the authorities went back to Porsche for another patrol car – a 911 Targa.

In operation until 1996, over 507 Porsche cars have been adorned with the Dutch police livery – making it the largest historic Porsche police fleet in the world.

Rover SD1

The Rover SD1 was the iconic police car of the 1980s, offering speed in a classically boxy shape.

They were stripped of any standard-vehicle frivolities, though, which is why they used a manual gearbox rather than an automatic, and had manual windows instead of electric. The springs were stiffened to aid cornering, while a heavy-duty clutch and bigger engine were fitted too.

Dubai Police

Okay, so this isn’t one car in particular – but rather the whole of Dubai Police’s fleet.
What began with a Lamborghini Aventador back in 2013 has now grown to include a Mercedes-AMG G63, Nissan GT-R and an Audi R8 – so any pursuit is likely to be stopped impressively quickly.

The fleet also contains – amazingly – a Bugatti Veyron. The 253mph-capable hypercar tops the bill of a current 14-strong fleet of high-speed patrol vehicles.

And one for future cops…

Giving a glimpse into the future of police patrol vehicles is this – the Scorpion-3 hoverbike. It’s just been tested out in Dubai (where else?), giving officers there the future opportunity of pursuing criminals from above – without the need for a helicopter.

Makers Hoversurf say that it has set new world records for flight height at 28.5 metres, and climbing rate too at five metres per second. Coupled with its impressive fleet of supercar patrol vehicles, there’s little escape for criminals from Dubai’s police.

The French are well known for their wacky designs – and the new DS 7 Crossback certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Not only does it debut a unique look for premium SUVs, but it’s packed with cool tech like night vision, suspension that scans the road ahead, swivelling headlights and cat paw massages.

Here’s a closer look at the bits that caught our eye on the new £39,335 DS 7.

Cat pawing seats

Ever fancied a massage from a cat? No, us neither – but if that’s your particular fetish, the DS 7 can help.

As part of the car’s “Sensorial Drive” options, the driver and passenger can opt for a massage called “cat paw” which feels like a feline kneading your back. Yes, we thought it was a bit weird too.

The cabin ambience settings are called “My Cashmere” and “My Titanium” and also adjust the interior lighting intensity and colour, the tone of the music playing out of the speakers and the drive mode.

DS Active Scan Suspension

To help it ride smoothly, the DS 7 Crossback has a trick bit of kit hidden in the windscreen. A camera, which has height sensors and accelerometers built in, analyses the road ahead and prepares the suspension for imperfections.

The result is an extremely comfortable ride that would make the DS 7 an ideal long-distance companion. This sort of technology is normally only seen on the likes of the Mercedes S-Class, so the fact it’s here – and actually works – is impressive.

Night vision

If you’re imagining driving along with massive goggles on your head like in that T-Rex scene in Jurassic Park, don’t worry, it’s better integrated than that.

Selected via a dial on the steering wheel, the digital screen in the instrument binnacle (which is standard on all but the entry-level trim) can be switched to a heat-sensing view of the road ahead.

Cars, people, animals and other sources of heat appear bright white on the screen, but what’s most impressive is that people are highlighted in yellow, often before you’ve even noticed them yourself. There’s also a beep if it looks like you might hit them.

Swivel headlights

This is one of those things you just have to trust works. The LEDs twist and turn to light the road ahead and adapt to the environment you’re in to illuminate exactly what you need to see.

There are different settings for city driving, country roads and motorways, which activate based on your speed. There’s even a different light profile when the windscreen wipers are active to improve visibility in adverse weather.

And, when you turn the car on, the LED modules spin 180 degrees to face the road, which is totally unnecessary, but looks really cool.

BRM clock

DS Automobiles has a partnership with luxury watchmakers BRM Chronographs. There’s an analogue clock on top of the dashboard, which swivels to hide away when the car is turned off, swivelling back into place when the engine is started.

Useful for security, because if a shady observer spots a BRM clock sitting proud on the dashboard they might just be tempted to break in.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model as tested: DS 7 Crossback Prestige

Price: £39,335

Engine: 2.0-litre diesel

Power (bhp): 174

Torque (Nm): 400Nm

Max speed (mph): 134mph

0-60mph: 9.7 seconds

MPG: 57.6

Emissions (g/km): 128

Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce has been criticised for allowing grime artist Skepta to appear in a promotional video while not wearing a seatbelt.

The award-winning rapper is seen sitting in the back seat of a £360,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom with a friend, creating a song while being driven around not buckled up.

The Highway Code states that all passengers – including those sat in the rear – must wear a seatbelt at all times.

Road safety campaigners have reacted with shock that Rolls-Royce, based at Goodwood, West Sussex, released the video, which was filmed in Switzerland.

Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said: “It appears as if seatbelts may have not been worn in this promotional video and, if that was indeed the case, we’d expect Rolls-Royce to be setting a much better example.

“Putting on a seatbelt only takes a few seconds, yet remains one of the most important things people can do to protect themselves in a vehicle.

Need to put on your seatbelt man. Safety "first"

— babyboy (@bonesninefour) December 7, 2017

“Failing to belt up is not only illegal, but it could also cost you and those around you their life.”

Under Swiss law, it is compulsory for all passengers to wear a seatbelt if they are fitted. According to the RAC, police officers can issue and collect on-the-spot fines of up to 200 Swiss francs (circa £150).

In the video, Skepta and his passenger are seen being driven around the Swiss Alps while he attempts to create a song on his laptop. On several occasions, the passenger leans forward and it’s clear that the pair are not wearing seatbelts.

Edmund King, president of the AA, added: “Perhaps Skepta, the great grime artist, should listen to his own song ‘It Ain’t Safe’ before rapping in the back of a Rolls-Royce, apparently not wearing a seatbelt.

“Remember ‘it ain’t safe’ ever to travel in any car, not matter how safe, without belting up.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council was unable to comment, but quoted UK legislation, which states: “You must wear a seatbelt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted.

“Adults, and children aged 14 years and over, must use a seatbelt or child restraint, where fitted, when seated in minibuses, buses and coaches.

“Exemptions are allowed for the holders of medical exemption certificates and those making deliveries or collections in goods vehicles when travelling less than 50 metres.”

Drivers or passengers who break the law by failing to wear a seatbelt could face an on-the-spot fine of £100, or a maximum fine of £500, if prosecuted.

In 2010, Skepta tweeted: “Why don’t Cars have a button that says “I’M GONNA PUT MY SEATBELT ON IN A MINUTE NOW STOP F*%KIN BEEPING”.”

Why don't Cars have a button that says "I'M GONNA PUT MY SEATBELT ON IN A MINUTE NOW STOP F*%KIN BEEPING"

— SKEPTA (@Skepta) January 25, 2010

Think!, the government’s dedicated road safety website, says statistics show you’re twice as likely to die in a crash if you fail to buckle up.

Rolls-Royce repeatedly refused to respond to requests for a comment, and Skepta could not be reached.

Cars should have four wheels, right? Wrong! Well, at least it is if these mad, six-wheeled monsters are anything to go by.

They might not come along very often, but when they do a six-wheeled car certainly makes a statement. Whether they’re 50 per cent better, though, is still up for debate.

British car modification firm Kahn Design has just revealed a six-wheeled Land Rover Defender convertible – which reminded us to delve into the archives and have a look for some other half-dozen wheeled specials.

Kahn Design Flying Hunstman Defender 6×6 Soft Top

The latest edition to the six-wheel market is this effort from Bradford-based tuners Kahn Design, which has fitted a soft top to its wild Flying Huntsman model.

Its engineers took a Land Rover Defender and fitted an extra axle at the rear as well as a wide body kit to give it an extra-menacing appearance.

The rear section has been extended and now features a retractable soft top, giving the rear-most passengers the joys of open-top motoring in a vehicle capable of scaling a mountain – but now with a bit of protection, should the weather take a turn for the worse.

Panther Six

The Panther Six, unveiled in 1977 at a cost of £39,950 – or £264,000 in today’s money, was an attempt to totally reinvent the luxury car. It featured twin front axles, an ultra-luxurious coupe body and a mammoth twin-turbocharged 8.2-litre Cadillac engine – it was excess to the extreme.

Oddly enough, the idea never took off, and only two examples were ever built. Sadly, no attempt has been made to verify Panther’s claim of a 200mph-plus top speed.

Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6

The G-Class is a world-renowned go-anywhere off-roader. Its basic, boxy shape has been largely unchanged since it was introduced in 1979 – except for that time Mercedes released a six-wheeled version.

Known as the 6×6, it was built by the German firm’s in-house tuning company AMG. With 536bhp from its 5.5-litre V8, the £370,000 machine had more than enough power to get you out of trouble whatever the terrain.

Technological highlights include five lockable differentials, Ohlins suspension delivering an increased ride height and a high-powered LED light strip above the windscreen.

Hennessey Velociraptor 6×6

Hennessey Performance’s Velociraptor 6×6 is the ultimate expression of bigger is better. Based on the Ford Raptor, which is a beefed-up version of Ford’s already-massive F-150 truck, the Velociraptor 6×6 is a ludicrously expensive, ludicrously quick load lugger.

Starting at $349,000 (£260,000), modifications to the 3.5-litre V6 engine takes its output beyond 600bhp, while the 0-60mph sprint can be despatched in less than five seconds.

Tyrrell P34

Formula 1 teams are always looking for that innovative engineering idea that will give them an advantage over their opponents, and in 1976 Tyrrell came up with one of the most unique examples of that.

Project 34 featured two small wheels on each side at the front of the car, and one normal-sized wheel on each side at the rear.

Tyrrell came up with the idea after new regulations were introduced that limited the size of the front wing. To keep the size of the wheel small enough that it didn’t impact air flow while maintaining an effective contact patch, Tyrrell’s engineers fitted two on each side up front.

It was very successful in its first year, leading other teams to begin development of their own six-wheeled designs. However, changes made for its second season made it less competitive, leading Tyrrell to ditch the idea. Formula 1 later put rules in place that cars must have four wheels.

The festive season is rapidly approaching – but what do you get for the car-mad person in your life?

Helpfully, we’ve put together a list of the ideal presents for petrolheads, and with a variety of different prices there’s sure to be something for every budget.

Mercedes-AMG Technical Jacket

There can be few better ways to show your allegiance to one of the most famous car tuning arms of all time than by getting this fantastic jacket – short of buying one of its ludicrously expensive cars, of course.

This one is fully waterproof and windproof, so is perfect for the chilly winter months. There’s also a handy interior pocket for your mobile phone.

Where: Mercedes-Benz webstore
How much: £165

Autoglym Gift Set

What could be better than starting a new year than with a gleaming car? For that you need the best products and, thankfully, Autoglym has that covered.

Its gift pack is filled with a variety of different products designed to make cleaning your pride and joy as simple as possible. It helps that the products are really rather good, too.

Where: Autoglym website
How much: £17.40 – £65.50 (different sizes available)

Omologato

Omologato has a strong heritage in motorsport, making classic-looking watches that are inspired by motor racing. They’re the perfect gift for those who love racing, and those who like solidly made watches too. There are plenty of designs to choose from on the manufacturer’s website.

Where: Omologato website
How much: £289 – £599

Dash Cams

With ever-rising insurance prices and more vehicles on the roads than ever, a dash cam could be a practical gift for a loved one or even yourself.

Our choice camera is the Nextbase Duo HD. As the name may suggest, it features a dual-camera setup that can record footage from the front and rear of the car in 1080p, ensuring maximum coverage.

Recommended retail price for the Duo HD is £199, although Halfords is currently offering a bundle that also includes a 32gb MicroSD card and a hardwire fitting kit for £239.

Where: Halfords
How much: £199

Gaming

This year has seen plenty of new racing games, so you’re spoilt for choice this festive season.

Our pick for Xbox owners is the excellent Forza Motorsport 7, which features more than 660 cars and 32 track locations — it’s even enhanced for the new Xbox One X, meaning 4k gaming. It’s available on Amazon for £39.95.

PlayStation 4 gamers should opt for Gran Turismo Sport — which takes the once car collection-focused series into a new, more motorsport-centred experience. Amazon currently has it listed for £38.

Where: Various stores
How much: From £38

Scalextric

In a world where mobile devices and gaming consoles dominate households, it’s increasingly difficult for traditional toy manufacturers to keep up. Hornby has had a go though, with its new Scalextric Arc Air technology — showcased in the excellent 24h Le Mans Porsche 911 RSR set.

The set retains the traditional Scalextric experience — including two Porsche 911 race cars and enough track to make 12 different layouts.

The real party trick lies in the Arc Air tech — which lets races be set up through an app available on both iOS and Android devices, including grand prix, endurance races and even the ability to race a mobile-device controlled opponent. What’s more, the app can even simulate fuel levels, tyre wear and racing incidents.

Where: Hornby website
How much: £219.99

Mini Roof Tent

The Mini Countryman is the largest and most off-road friendly car the British brand has ever produced.

To make it even more appealing to those outdoors enthusiasts, you can now purchase a special tent that can be attached to the Mini’s roof. It’s produced by a company called Autohome, and will set you back a considerable £2,800 when adjusted for UK pricing.

Where: Autohome website
How much: circa £2,800

Bentley GT3 Radio Control Car

Have you got an aspiring young racing driver in the family? This 1:14 scale remote-control version of Bentley’s Continental GT3 racer could just be the perfect gift for them. It can travel at speeds of up to 6mph and at a distance of 20 metres.

Where: Official Bentley shop
How much: £59

Damon Hill: Watching The Wheels

Legendary British Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has released an autobiography – and it’s so good it won book of the year at the Royal Automobile Club awards this year.

It charts his rise to the top of motorsport’s elite, while also looking at what it was like to grow up as the son of an iconic racing driver. It’s perfect for motorsport fans who grew up watching Hill every weekend.

Where: Amazon
How much: £4

DAB Radio Adapter

Most modern cars come with DAB radio, but if you’ve got an older vehicle and you’re fed up of missing out on digital radio, there is a solution.

DAB radio adapters allow you to pick up digital radio signals and play them through your existing unit, which means you get better audio quality and a larger variety of stations – perfect for long drives to see family at Christmas.

Where: Amazon
How much: £125